I wonder if infotainment and telemetry systems running on QNX will be just as susceptible to these hacks as everyone else, or if they're somehow more resistant to pen testing.

Posted while peeking and flowing on my incredible BBQ10! 

Security architecture is different than security implementation. The former is QNX the latter are the car manufacturers. ODB based hacks have already been demonstrated on makes that we know use QNX. You can build the best safe in the world but it doesn't do diddly if the access code is '1234'

I'm hoping Chen announces progress with getting carriers to offer WorkLife and pay-as-you-go software licensing in developed countries and other Movirtu offerings in developing countries. That would indicate carriers are willing to support BlackBerry, the company, again. BlackBerry was offering some packages free to carriers with a revenue sharing agreement.

If youre looking for BlackBerry Ltd. to finally turn the corner, Fridays earnings report might not be the moment to tune in according to analyst expectations.

Sentiment is mixed, particularly on the long term outlook of the Waterloo, Ont. technology company, but most agree that revenues will miss again, most likely thanks to slow hardware sales of the new Classic handset.

BlackBerry is still making about 46 per cent of its revenue on hardware, but that ratio might have slipped as several key markets didnt get shipments of the Classic until halfway through the fourth quarter. A report from Morgan Stanley suggested BlackBerry may have sold only 8,000 Classics in the United States during the quarter, though its global hardware sales may have topped 1.5 million.

In the third quarter BlackBerry surprised analysts by being cashflow positive, after six quarters of bleeding money, even as it missed revenue targets. Some analysts, including TD Securities Inc., expect the company will be cashflow positive again thanks to Mr. Chens cost-cutting efforts.

We are a little ahead of our two-year turnaround and strategy, Mr. Chen told reporters earlier this month at the Mobile World Congress convention in Barcelona.

The main area of concern for BlackBerry watchers is Mr. Chens target to earn $500-million through its software business in 2015. To hit that number it needs its hardware customers or corporate IT buyers (who manage fleets of different devices these days) to pay for service add-ons like high-security messaging service BBM Protected, or the Gold Level premium version of its enterprise management software.

Right now, there are a decent number of subscribers signed up for the EZ Pass device management system, as it was offered free to customers for a year. That trial period is ending, and Citi analysts believe that most customers are letting EZ Pass lapse rather than paying to upgrade. Whats more, our checks indicate that BBRY may not be enforcing the Feb. 1 start date for required maintenance payment, implying the licence total may stay artificially high while [services] revenue does not grow, analyst Ehud Gelblum wrote.

Morgan Stanley, which titled its research note At this rate, it wont even be close, suggested that 50 per cent of EZ Pass customers are not renewing.

BlackBerry has also committed to launching four new handsets in the remainder of 2015, which might be seen as a distraction from the software mission. However, most analysts agree the company will need a boost to reach Mr. Chens goal of selling 10 million devices a year, especially since the first new device of his tenure the boxy, unorthodox Passport has not sparked consumer interest.

Results are expected Friday before markets open. Analysts expect a loss of 4 cents per share and revenue of $802-million. Shares are down 4.7 per cent in the last five days on the Nasdaq and 15.8 per cent in 2015 so far.

If you’re looking for BlackBerry Ltd. to finally turn the corner, Friday’s earnings report might not be the moment to tune in according to analyst expectations.

Sentiment is mixed, particularly on the long term outlook of the Waterloo, Ont. technology company, but most agree that revenues will miss again, most likely thanks to slow hardware sales of the new Classic handset.

BlackBerry is still making about 46 per cent of its revenue on hardware, but that ratio might have slipped as several key markets didn’t get shipments of the Classic until halfway through the fourth quarter. A report from Morgan Stanley suggested BlackBerry may have sold only 8,000 Classics in the United States during the quarter, though its global hardware sales may have topped 1.5 million.

In the third quarter BlackBerry surprised analysts by being cashflow positive, after six quarters of bleeding money, even as it missed revenue targets. Some analysts, including TD Securities Inc., expect the company will be cashflow positive again thanks to Mr. Chen’s cost-cutting efforts.

“We are a little ahead of our two-year turnaround and strategy,” Mr. Chen told reporters earlier this month at the Mobile World Congress convention in Barcelona.

The main area of concern for BlackBerry watchers is Mr. Chen’s target to earn $500-million through its software business in 2015. To hit that number it needs its hardware customers or corporate IT buyers (who manage fleets of different devices these days) to pay for service add-ons like high-security messaging service BBM Protected, or the Gold Level premium version of its enterprise management software.

Right now, there are a decent number of subscribers signed up for the EZ Pass device management system, as it was offered free to customers for a year. That trial period is ending, and Citi analysts believe that most customers are letting EZ Pass lapse rather than paying to upgrade. What’s more, “our checks indicate that BBRY may not be enforcing the Feb. 1 start date for required maintenance payment, implying the licence total may stay artificially high while [services] revenue does not grow,” analyst Ehud Gelblum wrote.

Morgan Stanley, which titled its research note “At this rate, it won’t even be close,” suggested that 50 per cent of EZ Pass customers are not renewing.

BlackBerry has also committed to launching four new handsets in the remainder of 2015, which might be seen as a distraction from the software mission. However, most analysts agree the company will need a boost to reach Mr. Chen’s goal of selling 10 million devices a year, especially since the first new device of his tenure – the boxy, unorthodox Passport – has not sparked consumer interest.

Results are expected Friday before markets open. Analysts expect a loss of 4 cents per share and revenue of $802-million. Shares are down 4.7 per cent in the last five days on the Nasdaq and 15.8 per cent in 2015 so far.

what gets me is how bbry execs said themselves that rev will be lower this qtr then last but somehow they are predicting higher revs then last qtr. Smells like a setup to me

"BlackBerry Ltd is expected to report a fourth-quarter loss and a sharp decline in revenue. Much of this has already been baked into expectations, and the big focus will be on any indications of an uptick in software revenue. Analysts and investors will be looking for signs whether the company can deliver on its promise of growing software revenue, as it pivots to become more of a software and services player"

I was going over a few posts from the last 48 hours and I would like to clear up what I think might be a misunderstanding attributable, originally, to our good friends at Bloomberg. It may be clear to some of you but it wasn't to me, until a few minutes ago. So here goes...

The Canadian fund manager now holds 5.4 percent of BlackBerry’s common shares, according to a U.S. securities filing on Thursday. That places Canso behind Primecap Management Co. and Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Someone had the good idea of posting the Canso Conference Call yesterday in an effort to clarify whether Canso converted or not.

(Corrects story that ran Thursday to say Canso holds only a passive stake.)

(Bloomberg) -- Canso Investment Counsel Ltd. reported a 5.4 percent passive stake in BlackBerry Ltd, through a $300 million convertible debenture it holds in the smartphone maker, according to a U.S. securities filing on Thursday.

We are now talking about a "passive stake", which means that the bond has not been converted into shares. Canso still hold the convertible debt.

I was going over a few posts from the last 48 hours and I would like to clear up what I think might be a misunderstanding attributable, originally, to our good friends at Bloomberg. It may be clear to some of you but it wasn't to me, until a few minutes ago. So here goes...

We are now talking about a "passive stake", which means that the bond has not been converted into shares. Canso still hold the convertible debt.

Hope this helps clarify the issue!

Cheers,

Not so fast my friend! A "passive stake" is defined as a stock position in a company while not requesting a position on the board of the company. The investment is passive if you are only investing in the company and not wanting to control it in any way. The vast majority of stock holders in the world today, hold passive positions in their investments.

Well quite the day today chaps. Markets now closed ready for the ER in the AM. Meanwhile CEO Mr. John Chen continues with his game plan giving us his rye smile once in a while to the media. I actually find all this quite amusing.

I do hope that people do realize that a lot of us first purchased the Z 10 in February 2012 - so for me through Bell I can upgrade for free in December coming. So hopefully many original bb10 customers will be renewing into one of the current phones or upcoming ones. That should be a good hardware sales quarter if they stay loyal. I will either buy the Passport or the new slider. The products are there it's the perception that isn't. John Chen and all of us loyalists need to change that view, it will take time so have patience. Apple can't continue to stay on top, no one does forever.

@Morgan sir thanks for your knowledge but why wouldn't they wanted to be on the board. Just curious. Are they that confidence

#BBFactCheck

Usually only hedge funds and guys like Carl Ichann take a 10% or more position and then request a seat on the board. In his case, he feels a company is not using their assets (cash usually) to their fullest extent. He often requests a higher dividend be paid and share buybacks so that he can sell his 10% plus holdings into a strong market. Its fine to think he can make fundamental changes at a company but the vast majority of the time, he is bleeding it dry in favour of a quick profit. Not good.

For the majority of us, we buy common shares with no expectation of changing the way the company does business.

Not so fast my friend! A "passive stake" is defined as a stock position in a company while not requesting a position on the board of the company. The investment is passive if you are only investing in the company and not wanting to control it in any way. The vast majority of stock holders in the world today, hold passive positions in their investments.

Indeed, Morgan! You certainly know better than I do but allow me to put forward my interpretation and let me know if it makes sense...

I believe that StreetInsider piece refers to the same source that was mistakenly quoted by Bloomberg. Bloomberg refers to "a U.S. securities filing on Thursday" (March 12). Fine. They were probably looking at this:SC 13G
Or, more correctly, this:SC 13G/A

Finally, I would surmise that Bloomberg lacked riguour when they corrected themselves by saying that Canso holds a "passive stake" which, as you point out, can be interpreted as you say it can. I suspect the reporter interpreted it in the sense of "non active stake", ie the bonds have not been converted and they do not yet own shares. I am also led to believe that if they did own so many shares, they would appear in the Schedule 13F. One would have to check that.

In any event, let me know what you think! Simply trying to get this thing clarified! Cheers,

Indeed, Morgan! You certainly know better than I do but allow me to put forward my interpretation and let me know if it makes sense...

I believe that StreetInsider piece refers to the same source that was mistakenly quoted by Bloomberg. Bloomberg refers to "a U.S. securities filing on Thursday" (March 12). Fine. They were probably looking at this:SC 13G
Or, more correctly, this:SC 13G/A

Which, under point 9, says:

The note is the following:

My interpretation is that Canso had to file this Schedule 13G but that the shares were not converted at that time and have not been since.

Finally, I would surmise that Bloomberg lacked riguour when they corrected themselves by saying that Canso holds a "passive stake" which, as you point out, can be interpreted as you say it can. I suspect the reporter interpreted it in the sense of "non active stake", ie the bonds have not been converted and they do not yet own shares. I am also led to believe that if they did own so many shares, they would appear in the Schedule 13F. One would have to check that.

In any event, let me know what you think! Simply trying to get this thing clarified! Cheers,

I mentioned that clause in their 13G too, it is not the correct way to file a claim of ownership when the vehicle is a Bond and you are claiming voting rights. They have no voting rights at all until they convert the bonds! A passive position is defined as a shareholder without representation and this holds true for all of us. Everyone here who owns shares in BB are holding a passive position by definition. How an author could get that wrong is beyond me! There are reports from all of the media centers regarding this 13G, part of the problem is that it shouldn't have been filed the way it was in the first place unless they converted those bonds. It's like the management team filled out half the form and then realized it was the wrong form and tried to add a clause to indicate the bonds are still untouched! The good news is that BB will have to adjust their number of shares outstanding if these clowns did in fact convert those bonds. It looks as though they purchased a couple of 100,000 shares in addition to the bond offering, just to make matters more confusing! We'll know in due time!

Oh yeah, get your rest my friend, you are going to be a very busy person tomorrow morning!!